Germany set for record soybean harvest despite overall EU decline

Germany is expected to harvest its largest soybean crop on record in 2026, even as overall soybean production across the European Union continues to decline. According to the European Commission, this divergence reflects weaker output trends in several major producing countries within the bloc.

Total EU-27 soybean production for the 2026/27 marketing year is forecast at just under 2.8 million tonnes, around 1% lower than a year earlier. The decline is mainly driven by Italy, where output is expected to fall by 15% to 899,000 tonnes — the lowest level in five years. France, the EU’s second-largest producer, is projected to increase production by 4% to 408,000 tonnes, while several other member states are also expected to post modest gains.

Germany stands out as the strongest growth market in the bloc. The European Commission forecasts a 21% increase in German soybean production to 159,000 tonnes, marking an all-time high for the country. Although volumes remain relatively small in EU terms, the growth highlights Germany’s expanding role in domestic protein crop production and efforts to reduce dependence on imported feed proteins.

The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) notes that the long-term trend remains positive, with EU soybean production having tripled over the past decade. However, the organisation warns that the European Commission’s proposal to classify soybeans as a feedstock with a high risk of indirect land-use change (iLUC) could slow further expansion of soybean cultivation in the bloc.

Against this backdrop, UFOP is urging EU institutions not to support the delegated act. The debate continues, with market participants emphasizing that stronger protein crop strategies are becoming increasingly important amid ongoing shifts in European agricultural production patterns.

Tags: soybean, Germany